Urgent!!

[Jennie]

My cat, Tim, was diagnosed with pancreatisis and was on amoxicil for a month. The infection seems to have cleared up but he's not improving. He has a huge appitite with weight loss and very smelly, runny stools - classic signs of continuing pancreatisis. I think he is starving - literally.

My question: is there any medication that will enable Tim to asorb the nutrients from his food? If there is nothing that is going to help him recover than the only chlice is the "Rainbow Bridge".

Please answer as soon as possible. Thanks!!!

[kate & kobi]

Hi Jennie, what does your vet say? It's hard to say over the web, but I think your vet is your best resource. If you want a second opinion, it's perfectly okay to go to another vet, especially if you're not getting the answers you need from your primary vet. Don't think about the Bridge just yet, but do try to get him to a vet - maybe an emergency vet if no one else will see him this weekend.

Good luck and please keep us posted!

[Traci]

Jennie, this is in reference to your posts at MA's board, yes?

If your vet is still suspecting pancreatitis, it needs to be properly diagnosed, please see my posts to you again on MA's board (thecatsite.com) concerning diagnostics and treatment.

The weight loss is concerning, your vet isn't telling you what you need to know, you need to see a NEW vet immediately and address these problems specifically and immediately. Pancreatitis CAN be a life-threatening condition if not treated appropriately and agressively. From what I gathered from your previous posts, etc.....you need an entirely new vet, new diagnostics, new treatment approach. Diet, fluids administration and potential pancreatic enzymes added to the food are critical in treatment. (and as mentioned before, withholding of food/fasting during initial diagnostics may be necessary, then pending, slow introduction of bland diet, etc)

However, your vet seemingly couldn't distinguish liver disease from pancreatitis, so for this reason, get a new vet NOW and get a CLEAR diagnosis with an effective treatment plan into action. Your very first post was August 3, it is now Sept 20 and Tim is obviously NOT responding to anything your vet has done. I am so disappointed in his "approach" in Tim's care and treatment approach. Unless there is some more vital information that is missing, the most important and best thing you can do is get a new vet and get this diagnosed appropriately RIGHT NOW.....treatment varies per the condition, your first vet didn't even persue differentials or other diagnostics (according to your posts)

Please Jennie, this is nothing to be messing around with, Tim is counting on you to get him the care he deserves, get to a ER vet IMMEDIATELY, not a moment later!

[Guest]

Hi Traci, I've been to so many cat sites on the 'Net that I got lost!

You are right about my current vet. I can't figure him out and I no longer care to. I will be calling a new vet tomorrow.

I know Tim is counting on me to do the best I can for him. It's an unfortunate fact that I'm living on a very limited income and simply can't afford the hundreds of dollars it may take for treatment. I also have to consider quanity over quality and Would putting Tim through all the tests, fasting, etc. be worth it especially if it's not going to cure him. I went through this with another cat (in Toronto) , when I did have the money to spend, and the results were the same. I swore then that I would never put another cat through that again.

I will post tomorrow and let you know what has happened.

Could you tell me what causes pancrease and liver disease? I would like to avoid this in the future with my other two kits, Tangi and Cody.

I want to thank you for all the help and support, I'll be back! Jennie

[Traci]

Jennie, below are two links to help you understand feline pancreatitis, treatment options and what to expect:

Feline Pancreatitis

This one is a bit technical:

Pancreatitis in the Dog and Cat

Treatment is not as expensive as it sounds....the primary concern here is getting Tim accurately diagnosed. Your vet first told you Tim had a liver problem but failed to tell you what type of liver disease. Then he told you it was pancreatitis but failed to outline common treatment approaches for this disease. Initial hospitalization on IV fluids is usually the mainstay in initial treatment, plus antibiotics, anti-vomiting meds, fasting or withholding food until the pancreas stabilizes, and once the patient is stabilized, home care is initiated with proper diet, possibly enzymes added to the diet. The primary care involves hospitalization with IV fluids, fasting, then introducing a low-fat diet, and maintaining the diet with enzymes if necessary.

Tim has gone far too long without proper care and support. Your vet is obviously not experienced in this area, or has failed to even give you acceptable treatment options. You need a NEW vet entirely, ask about testing main liver function enzymes, and pancreatic enzyme testing, you might have to opt for the special TLI to effectively rule in pancreatitis as the primary disease. With pancreatitis, the liver is usually always compromised, so treating both becomes very important. You might also need to rule out accompanying Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which could be related.

You owe it to Tim to persue his treatment...once the initial crisis is over, home care becomes much more manageable. As it is now, you don't even have a proper diagnosis, and much of the advice and direction your vet has given you thus far is incomplete, inaccurate, incomprehensive for this disease in particular. (remember the tuna? remember his confusion on initial diagnosis? etc)

Get Tim to a new vet RIGHT NOW, ask for the tests mentioned above, get him hospitalized for at least two or three days on IV fluids (pending your new vet's assessment).....and take notes while you are discussing these things because you need to know about the disease, treatment and what to expect. I'm fairly confident that with the correct treatment approach, Tim has an excellent chance at recovery, or at least getting past the stage of acute crisis here, whereas you can then manage him at home.

Don't wait on this, each day without proper treatment is another day the pancreas and liver begin to fail. Don't let that happen, Tim deserves the ultimate in care and treatment.

[Guest]

Traci - Have interviewed a new vet this morning and will interview another one this afternoon. Tim will be going to one or the other is a day or two. He looks like he's feeling better today. I added a little bran to his wet food to se if it would help with the loose stools.

[Guest]

Sad to say Timmy crossed the Rainbow Bridge last Friday. Another visit to the vet discovered a mass in his belly and he had lost another two pounds (from 20 to 8!). Thanks for all your help and concern! Jennie

[LisaLisa]

Jennie,

I'm sorry to hear about Timmy ***tears***. You gave him your best. My heart goes out for you.

I will keep you and Timmy in my prayers...

(((HUGS)))

[Cleo]

I am also very sorry and will keep you and Timmy in my thoughts and prayers.
Cleo

[kk]

I am so sorry for the sudden loss of your Timmy. You took such good care of him. He was lucky to have you, and you to have him. ((hugs)), kk